Dorothy Garlock (40 page)

“Did you know that she was his mother? ”

“Lord, no! I don't think anyone else knows it, either. Blue says she's scared to death of him. She's helpless and afraid he'll kill her. I've not known Blue to exaggerate. He says Madison harasses Mrs. Byers about things that only the two of them know about. I trust Blue's instincts. He's the one who knocked him off the porch railing.”

“I've known Madison longer than I've known that Indian.”

“Then you're going along with Madison? ”Jelly asked.

“Stick around, Gus, ”the sheriff said in answer to Jelly's question. “I shouldn't be gone long. If that drunk back there gets any louder, throw a bucket of water on him.”

“He'd not mind that a-tall, ”Gus drawled. “He'd not have to take no bath till Christmas.”

“He'd mind it if it had a couple of scoops of fresh cow shit in it.”

“Then I'd have to clean the cell, Sheriff. Can't I just whack him with a pair of brass knuckles and knock him out for a while? ”

The sheriff ignored Gus's joking request and picked up his hat. After giving his deputy a warning look, he went out to meet Madison.

Jelly swore, checked the gun in the shoulder holster beneath his coat and hurried out the back door and down the dark alley toward the hotel.

Lloyd paced up and down in front of the jail with a satisfied smile, and his fingers caressed his face while he waited for the sheriff. He was extremely proud of his performance.

These yokels didn't have any idea they were dealing with a master of manipulation. He had wiggled out of more serious scrapes than this and loved the challenge of doing it! He rubbed his hands together in satisfaction. He had come out on top then, and he'd do it again.

Damn, but he enjoyed having a woman afraid of him! Beautiful Laura had about shit her drawers when he had her kid. It served her right. She should never have cozied up with Westfall.

Lloyd recognized that he might have made a mistake snatching up the kid. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, one he now regretted. But he had been so damn mad when he went to Laura's house, found it locked up tighter than a banker's purse and discovered her gone. All of his careful planning not to be seen going out there had been wasted. He had looked forward to spending a couple of hours with her while Westfall was at the fire. After that he doubted the rich boy would have wanted the little widow.

He'd not fret about it now. He was sure that he'd get another chance at her.

Things had gone exactly the way he'd planned, except for one thing: Westfall should be in jail by now. Oh well, it could happen any day, and in the meantime he would make his presence known at the hotel. He didn't want the damn bitch to die yet. But when she did, he wanted her to slide into hell knowing just how much he despised her!

Lloyd smoothed the mark on his face. The gullible sheriff would help him. He had swallowed his story, hook, line and sinker.

God! I am good. I should have gone on the stage!

Chapter 28

J
ELLY WAS WITHIN A DOZEN PACES OF THE COUPLE
sitting on the end of the porch before they saw him. The man hastily shifted the child in his arms to the woman and stood protectively in front of them.

“Evening, ”Jelly said pleasantly and moved into the light from the kitchen window.

“It's Mr. Bryce, ”Laura said quickly and tugged on the man's hand. “Mr. Bryce, this is Mr. Westfall — ”

“Howdy.” Hunter held out his hand. “I've seen you around, just didn't recognize you in the dark. I'm edgy after all that's happened.”

“Understandable, ”Jelly replied and shook Hunter's hand. “Madison is coming into the front of the hotel with the sheriff. I suggest that you stay with Mrs. Hopper and the baby and keep them out of sight.”

“I've a score to settle with him — ”

“I understand that, but now isn't the time.” Jelly stepped up onto the porch.

“Is there going to be trouble? ”Hunter asked.

“Might be.”

Jelly went through the kitchen to find Blue slouching beside Justine's partially open door.

“How is she? ”Jelly asked.

“Conscious and talking to Radna and Jill.”

“Madison is on his way here with the sheriff. He says that she's his mother and is demanding to see her.”

“Holy shit! ”Blue straightened. “Are you sure? He could be making it up.”

“He's convinced the sheriff that he's got a right to be here. To make it legal he'd have to have a court order or have Mrs. Byers acknowledge him as her son. In that case he could take charge.”

“Whata you think we should do, Jelly? ”

“Keep him out of there. Stay here by the door. I'll find Joe and ask him to send someone for the doctor. That may be the one way we can keep him out.”

Blue slipped into the room and placed his hand on Radna's shoulder.

Justine's eyes moved to him. “Take … care of her.” Her voice was faint and slurred. “She's… dear to me.”

He nodded that he understood. “She's dear to me, too.” Blue bent over the bed to press the hand that lay in Radna's. “Don't worry about Radna. I'll put a hobble on her.”

Jill was crying silently, her eyes lingering on her aunt's face.

“Don't cry, honey, ”Justine said. “I'm ready to …go — ”

Blue motioned to Radna. They went into the hall, leaving Jill alone with her aunt.

“I don't think she'll last the night.” Radna wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Madison is coming here with the sheriff. Jelly just told me.”

“No! Why is the sheriff coming? ”

“She's Madison's mother. Did you know that? ”

“Of course I knew that. I've known her for fifteen years. She told me about him years ago. She knew that he was mean and hard, but not to the extent that he is. She hasn't been the same since he came here. He broke her heart. I'll not let him make her last hours on earth miserable! I mean it, Blue, I'll kill him if I have to.”

“Godamighty, Rosebud. It won't come to that.”

“Jelly has gone to tell Joe. He's sending someone for the doctor. He thinks that may be a way of keeping him out. Do Jill and Joe know? ”

“She told them tonight. She doesn't want
him
at her funeral.”

“It'll be hard to keep him away unless we knock him out and lock him in his room.” Blue put his arms around her and held her close. “When you go back in, ”he said, his lips against her forehead, “lock the door and don't worry. He won't come in. I promise you. Believe me? ”

Radna nodded, leaned on him and wrapped her arms around his waist. It was comforting to hear the strong beat of his heart beneath her ear.

“I'm glad you're here, Randolph.”

“Me, too, Rosebud. Between me and Joe and Jelly, we'll keep him out.”

“Have you looked in on Thad? ”

“He's sleeping. Mrs. Cole is in the kitchen building a stew and making coffee. It's what she wanted to do. Laura and the baby are with Westfall on the back porch.

He's about as crazy about her as I am about you, Rosebud.”

“Still full of bull, aren't you, Randolph? Even at a time like this, your tongue is loose at both ends.”

He chuckled. “That's my sassy girl.” He lifted his head to listen to voices coming from the lobby. “Go on in and lock the door.”

As soon as Radna slipped into the room, Blue went down the hall to the lobby. Sheriff Page was talking to Joe.

“He wants to say good-bye to his mother.”

“How do you know that she's his mother, Sheriff? Are you taking his say-so? ”Joe stood with his arms folded across his chest. “Madison has been needling her about this and that ever since he came here. Why hasn't he mentioned before that she's his mother? ”Joe's eyes went to Lloyd.

“I told you, Sheriff, Mother was ashamed she gave birth to a child with a hideous birthmark. I've been told that some in Jefferson City, where I was born, considered it the mark of the devil. That's why she left me and never mentioned having me. I assumed Joe and Jill knew who I was. They've taken over my mother's life and her hotel. They are only a niece and nephew. I'm the next of kin, and I demand my right to be with her during her last days.”

“Prove that she's your mother, ”Blue said.

“What's your interest in this? ”Lloyd asked. He barely managed to keep his voice civil.

“Just made a reasonable request, ”Blue answered calmly.

“Well, keep your requests to yourself and stay out of things that are none of your business.” Lloyd lifted his hand to his cheek, then dropped it quickly when he realized what he had done. He moved to walk down the hall. Blue and Joe moved in unison to block his way. “Sheriff, ”Lloyd said. “Tell them my rights here.”

“Show me a birth certificate with Mrs. Byers's name on it and I'll make sure that you see her.”

“It would take days to get my birth certificate and you know it, ”Lloyd sputtered. “It's in the courthouse in Jefferson City, Missouri.”

“Get it. Is Justine Jones Madison listed as your mother? ”

“I've never looked at it, but I'm sure she is. Why wouldn't she be? ”Lloyd's face turned a brick red because he was angry; he was not uneasy about lying. “Now, listen here, Sheriff Page. She'll be dead before I can get that certificate. I'm going to see her. Now! ”

“No, you're not! ”Joe grabbed Lloyd's shirtfront as he tried to dart around him. “The doctor is on his way. He'll go in and see my aunt, then tell you if you can see her.”

“That sounds reasonable to me, ”the sheriff said.

“Turn me loose, you …ignorant hick. I'm the next of kin here. You stand in my way and I'll swear out a warrant for your arrest.”

“Then you'll have to swear out one for me, too.” Blue moved in behind Joe.

“And me.” Elmer, on his crutches, moved out from behind the desk.

“Make it four, ”Jelly said and noticed the startled look on the sheriff's face.

“Five.” Mr. Boise, the barber, moved his chubby body beside Jelly's tall frame.

“Godamighty, ”the sheriff swore. “What's your stake in this, Boise? ”

“I'm known Mrs. Byers for ten years and lived in this hotel for seven. I've visited with her for many hours. If she'd had a son, she'd have mentioned it.”

“That's the truth, Sheriff.” Skeeter Ridge sidled out of the corner where he had sat all afternoon waiting for news of Justine. “If Justine'd had a boy, she'd a been proud of it. A little old mark on the face wouldn'ta put her off.”

“Well, Sheriff, what's it going to be? ”Lloyd was getting a perverse pleasure out of the confrontation. It was like being on the stage. But at times he could scarcely hold his temper. “Are you going to let this bunch, who are waiting to get their hands on my mother's hotel, keep her from spending her last hours with her child, her only child? ”

“We'll see what the doctor says. He's here now.” Relieved, the sheriff greeted the doctor. “Glad you're here, Doc.”

“The man said it was urgent. I'd better get on back and see my patient.”

“Doc, find out if she wants to see Madison. He claims he's her son, and they ”— he nodded toward the group behind Joe — “claim she doesn't want to see him.”

Dr. Russell glanced at Lloyd. “I never heard anything about Justine having a son.”

“Just find out, will you, Doc? This is taking more time than I intended to spend on it. I've other things to do.”

The gray-haired doctor, followed by Blue, went down the hall to Justine's door. Blue knocked and called to Radna.

“Open up. The doctor is here.”

The doctor heard the key turn in the lock before the door opened. He stepped into the room. Blue waited beside the closed door. Joe, Jelly and the others continued to block the hallway, refusing to allow Lloyd to pass.

Lloyd used the time to berate himself for not preparing a false birth certificate. The one on file in Jefferson City listed Jane J. Madison as his mother, with the notation:
died during childbirth.
He had known since an early age that it was not true.

The servants had delighted in telling him that his mother was a slut his father had brought in to give him a son and that, after the child was born, he had thrown her out. By the time he was fifteen, Lloyd knew her real name and had kept it a guarded secret until he was old enough and had the means to punish her. He had gained a vast amount of experience during college and the years following. When he was ready he had come to Rainwater.

Justine had known him immediately and had gaped at him like a fish out of water. Her tears of so-called joy had disgusted him. He had hated her before, and seeing her had intensified that hatred. That day he had vowed to do everything he could do to make her miserable until the day she died.

The damn slut is going to die before I've had my fill of revenge.
But all was not lost. He would get his revenge through his little country cousin; and when she met his
dear mother
in hell, she could tell her about it.

The clock in the lobby struck twelve midnight when Justine breathed her last. Joe, Jill and Radna were at her bedside. She had opened her eyes briefly when the doctor came into the room, bent over her and took her pulse, then closed them forever. Dr. Russell shook his head and left the room. The sheriff was waiting in the hall.

“Let her die in peace, Ira.”

The sheriff nodded and went down the hall to where Lloyd waited. After a short conversation, Lloyd went up the stairs to his room.

Shortly after that Joe came into his aunt's room and softly closed the door. The three people closest to Justine waited silently for the end. The minutes melted into an hour.

It was Joe who said, “She's gone.”

Jill and Radna cried softly while Joe went to fetch the doctor, who was in the kitchen drinking coffee with Jelly and Blue. When the doctor came out of Justine's room, he picked up his bag and put on his hat. Joe walked with him to the front lobby.

Skeeter Ridge sat in the chair he had occupied for the past eight hours. With a hand on his shoulder, Joe told him the news. Skeeter nodded. Without a word, he rose wearily from the chair and went out into the night.

After combing the hair of the woman who had been like a sister to her and placing her hands on her chest, Radna sat alone in the semidarkened room beside her. Blue waited, giving her time to be alone with her friend, then came in, picked Radna up and carried her to the big chair beside the window. He sat down and cuddled her on his lap. Radna let her head rest on his shoulder.